Public prosecutor opens hate crime inquiry

The Paris public prosecutor opened a criminal inquiry on 23 September 2026 into online cyberharassment and public racist insults targeting five-time Olympic judo champion Teddy Riner. Judicial authorities initiated the case ex officio after monitoring a large wave of racist messages and hateful commentary posted against the 37-year-old athlete across multiple social media platforms. The investigation was assigned to France's central office for combating hate crimes and crimes against humanity. Prosecutors confirmed that the digital abuse escalated following Riner's recent broadcast remarks addressing French domestic politics. Under French law, the specialized unit will identify the authors behind the illicit accounts and evaluate the severity of the online harassment.

Backlash follows televised comments on the far right

The harassment began after Riner appeared on the France Télévisions sports programme Stade 2 on 16 September 2026, where he expressed anxiety over the political rise of the far right. The judoka, who was born in Guadeloupe and raised in Paris, stated during the broadcast that the political shift caused him deep concern. Broadcaster Pascal Praud, far-right media outlets, and elected members of the National Rally subsequently directed public criticism and hostility toward him. On 24 September 2026, Riner published a statement on X confirming that all abusive comments would be recorded for formal prosecution, while thanking supporters for messages of solidarity.

“I expressed a concern. Everyone is free to share it or not. Debate and contradiction are legitimate. Hatred and racism are not.”

French sports figures and political interventions

Riner reiterated his commitment to participating in civic discourse without animosity, recalling his upbringing in a unified French society.

“I grew up in a France where people in difficulty were close-knit and united. Today's attempts to divide France, to create an mood of instability are unfamiliar to me. What will we leave for our kids tomorrow? The France I want is the France I grew up in where everyone knew how to live together.”

The controversy follows a similar exchange in May 2026 involving French national football captain Kylian Mbappé, who warned in Vanity Fair about the consequences of the far right taking power. Mbappé, the 27-year-old former Paris Saint-Germain forward with Algerian and Cameroonian heritage, faced immediate pushback from National Rally politicians. Party leader Marine Le Pen responded on RTL radio, arguing that football fans were capable of choosing their preferred candidates without athlete endorsements. National Rally lawmaker Julien Odoul also publicly condemned the footballer's statements.

Olympic preparations and upcoming presidential election

Polling ahead of next spring's presidential election places the National Rally in first place for the opening round of voting. Riner recently returned to the Paris Saint-Germain judo club to focus on competing at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, which represents the final athletic objective of his competitive career. Following the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, where he secured gold, the heavyweight competitor has maintained a large public following across France. French newspaper L'Équipe reported that Riner has repeatedly hinted at the possibility of pursuing political involvement after retiring from competitive judo in 2028.